Submitted to the First International Workshop on Ubiquitous Computing for Cognitive Aids (UbiCog’02). In conjunction with The Fourth International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, UbiComp 2002. To be held Sunday Sept 29, 2002 in Göteborg, Sweden mPCA – A Mobile Patient Care-Giving Assistant for Alzheimer Patients * Carlos Giraldo, Sumi Helal, and William Mann Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for Successful Aging University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl 32611, USA Contact Author: helal@cise.ufl.edu Abstract The use of pervasive computing elements such as java smart phones and multi-modal sensors in smart homes of the future can potentially assist patients with Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The utility of this technology particularly in the elderly group of patients is currently hoped to reduce the huge economic toll on the ailing Medicaid system. We present an ongoing research project whose goal is to create a cognitive assistant to improve the independence of home-bound AD patients. We present the architecture of the Mobile Patient Care-Giving Assistant (mPCA), which integrates local-positioning systems, J2ME- based smart phones as well as other wireless and visual sensors. The mPCA system is targeted towards AD patients in their early to moderate stages of the disease (Global Deterioration Scale, or GDS = 4 or 5). Introduction Alzheimer disease is a dementing disorder, characterized by cognitive and behavioral problems. It involves the damage, breakdown of connections, and death of the brain cells. It affects the parts of the brain that control memory, thought, and language. It usually begins at age 60. Some of the signs include loss of memory, difficulty with abstract thinking, disorientation, loss of judgment, and personality changes. It progresses from mild to moderate to severe. People with mild AD can usually live alone. People with moderate AD may have great difficulty functioning without supervision. People with severe AD can no longer take care of themselves (2000 Progress Report on Alzheimer’s disease).Until a cure is found, people with Alzheimer’s disease need care-giving. According to the director of University of Florida’s Institute on Aging, 1 in 10 elders (4 millions) suffer from AD. It is also estimated that 1 in 5 elders will have AD by 2050. Also, a study made at the University of Pennsylvania, estimates that in 2002 AD will cost American businesses more than $61B [3]. This cost is broken down as follow:  The cost of family care-giving including absenteeism, productivity losses, and replacement losses ($ 36.5 billion).  The business share of health and long term care expenditures ($ 24.6 billion). * This research is supported by an RERC grant from the Department of Education and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.